Fast growing, climbable tree?

anchita(Bay area, CA)June 17, 2014

This is a bit of a cross-post, but I thought I'd ask the tree experts here. We have a 30'X40' spot in our backyard that gets sun from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the summer. I'd love to put in a tree there, which will grow to be something that kids can enjoy climbing. My kids are 6, 4 and 2 years old right now, so I understand that it may not grow fast enough for them to climb. Plus, this is not our "forever" home, so that adds to that uncertainty. But it is such a wonderful spot for a tree in a large yard, that I'm sure someone else's kids could enjoy climbing the tree in future too. If it would get edible fruit, that would be even better, but that's not a priority. Some folks over in the CA forum suggested Fig (verte) and Alder. I was wondering if I can get any endorsements or other recommendations here. Thanks in advance for any help.

anchita, I am thinking if you want something that will be big enough to climb in a decade you'll need the fastest growing trees around.

Only thing I have planted that I can really think of is the infamous weeping willow. Not a tree for all spots but you should see the one my neighbor started from a stick eleven years back. It is 30 x 50 or so huge for that time frame.

My metasequoia is probably not 30 foot yet but you might be able to get one to that size. Not totally a climbing tree.

and i would suggest you dont plant an ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE on the front lawn ... thats what the lawyers will call it.. when some dolt falls out of it.. and sues you ...

fruit growing is an art of its own... to get any volume of edible fruit.. the fruit growers spray the trees 3 to 5 times per year ... and i didnt play that game with kids around... however.. there is a fruit forum if you want their input ...

they might also help you with fig.. most of us here.. dont live in temperate enough areas to have much specific knowledge ...

time for a playscape... actually.. i removed the grass from an area and gave them a mud pit... no one ever fell out of it.. lol ...

Thank you for all the responses, suggestions and guidance. I definitely don't want to plant a tree that I (or someone else) will regret down the years, or something that's considered a trash tree, which is why I want to research my options first. This tree would be in a bare corner of a large backyard, so it shouldn't be a problem from passers-by perspective. Also, I don't want to be spraying it with anything that could be detrimental to my kids' or environmental health, and I'm willing to forgo the fruit if it only comes at that cost.

I'm guessing it is not very likely that a suitable tree would be large/strong enough for *my* kids to climb in time. But I'd still love to plant something of this nature, so hopefully others can enjoy it, even if a decade or two later.

I'm going to look into American Persimmon and Oriental Raisin Tree. I'd appreciate any other suggestions too. Thanks again!

Didn't read the last two replies when I posted... I have fond memories of eating mulberries from a neighborhood tree where I grew up (which was a significantly different area/weather than here though.) I'm also wondering why weeping willow is both recommended and advised against... Will need to look into that as well.

Its kinda like my Lincoln MarkVIII. Weeping willows have positives and negatives.

My MarkVIII is fun to drive. The Weeping willow is among the fastest growing of trees

My MarkVIII has no business being even started when there is snow on the road, it gets stuck easier than my 68 Mustang. The Weeping willow should not be planted where it does not have room or where old open pipes are, it has an aggressive root system.

The MarkVIII has a great drivetrain, engine, transmission, rear end are all very reliable. The Weeping Willow naturally gets the a low wide branching pattern needed for climbing.

Parts unique to the MarkVIII can be expensive or difficult to get. If I need a headlight to ebay I go for a used one!@#$#. The Weeping willow is a short lived tree. In your lifetime someone will have to saw it down or pay to have the formerly big bushy tree removed.

The air ride suspension on the MarkVIII was great when new but is an extra unnecessary maintenance problem after fifteen years and the front suspension is dainty. The Weeping willow is rather dainty in regards to disease resistance.

Every so often I find something on the MarkVIII that is just considerably more difficult to change than necessary. Yes you blend door and oil filter adapter plate! In 2012 many trees looked bad and many died from our heat and drought. Weeping willows were obviously stressed and many looked like crud but most I know recovered.

So there are some positives and negatives to both.

;)

Tongue in cheek I'd say test drive that old MarkVIII and if you like dealing with things like old BMW's, Jags or unique cars the Mark just might be right for you.

If you have room for the weeping willow and can accept that in a few decades it might be near its end go for it. The willow is a unique tree, it survives or thrives in very damp conditions but does fine in yards and grows like no one's business here.

Thank you for that very fun and informative analogy, toronado! Reading that, and some other info about Weeping Willows, I think I'll refrain from it. As pretty and fun as it sounds, I want to stick with something safer, longer lived and more classic, as trees go :-)

I would also agree that given sufficient space (they tend to have invasive lateral roots), a Mulberry tree would also be a great option as well. Morus nigra (black) is often considered the best-tasting and the larger Morus rubra (red) is the native American species. Morus alba (white) also grows to a similar size as Morus rubra and is what was used to feed silkworms in China, but is considered invasive here now.

So of these, I'd probably pick the Red Mulberry because of its larger size for climbing and preferred native status.

Dad planted one when we were very young, by the time I was entering my teen, the tree would support a half dozen kid sitting in the tree eating mulberries. When I was older I can remember many times looking out at the tree and see a dozen or so legs hanging out of the tree.

The tree we had had black mulberries. However if we could not wait that long we ate them when they were red, before they completely matured.

PS it was a great climbing tree, And the way it grew it provided a real nice "play house" where the branches spread out.

Thank you for your input, everyone! I decided to get a Pakistan Mulberry tree. Hopefully we'll at least get to enjoy the fruit, if not climbing. The part of the yard it'll be in is just dirt and a tool shed, and is the farthest corner away from the house. So hopefully the mess won't be a problem. With three kids under 6 years, this household is quite okay with messes though!